Thursday, June 24, 2010

Tucson LD29 Reps picked for leadership academy

Inside AZ Capitol's copper dome

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX -- Rep. Daniel Patterson and Rep. Matt Heinz, both from Tucson's district 29, have been selected to participate in a prestigious training institute for lawmakers in their first four years of service.

The Western Legislative Academy, put on by the Council of State Governments-WEST (CSG-WEST), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving Western state legislators, will build excellence and effectiveness in state legislators in the Western region.

“I’m honored to be selected for this academy, to have the opportunity to learn from legislators from other states and to build stronger bipartisanship in our state legislature,” Patterson said. “Arizona is on the wrong track, but I will continue to work hard toward moving our state forward next year.”

Admission to the Western Legislative Academy is competitive and is based on commitment to public service, desire to improve personal legislative effectiveness and interest in improving the legislative process. CSG-WEST chose 39 state legislators as members of the Class of 2010.

The Western Legislative Academy will convene July 12-15 in Colorado Springs, Colo. and will include intensive training in ethics, team building, communications, negotiations and time management. Faculty will include the Eagleton Institute’s Alan Rosenthal, a nationally recognized authority on state legislatures; Washington, D.C. communications expert Arch Lustberg, and a leading team building trainer for the U.S. Air Force.

“This is an excellent opportunity for skill building and I hope to put to work what I learn from the academy,” Heinz said.- adapted from AZ House Dems